Steel wool holder



Feb. 7, 1950 W. A. BAKER STEEL WOOL HOLDER Filed Feb. 10, 1948 \IFIIIIII iilli- I.

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W/LL /flM 14. B/l/(f/i BY Z W M ATTOR/VAVJ Patented Feb. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,496,371 STEEL WOOL HOLDER William A. Baker, San Rafael, Calif., assignor to Baker Novelty Company, Los Angeles County, Calif., a corporation California Application February 10, 1948, Serial No. 7,396

1 Claim.

This invention relates to scouring devices, and more particularly to holders for steel wool and the like used by housewives for cleaning cooking utensils and other household articles.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved steel Wool holder which is very simple in construction, easy to handle and in which the steel wool may be readily replaced when worn beyond the :point of usefulness.

A .further object of the invention is to provide an improved steel wool holder which is very inexpensive to manufacture, sturdy in construction and wherein the steel wool is firmly secured so that it cannot readily work loose while it is being rubbed against a utensil surface or other surface to be scoured.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a steel wool holder constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the steel wool holder of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a to .plan view of the steel wool holder of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view or the holder of Figure 1 with the steel wool removed.

Referring to the drawings, I I designates a generally cylindrical shell of light gauge sheet metal having a centrally apertured top wall l2 and formed around its periphery with depending benda'ble spaced fingers l3. Each finger I3 is inwardly struck at M to define an inwardly extending barb or spur l5 and the fingers l 3 are also curved inwardly at their lower ends as shown at l6, said lower ends being downwardly tapered to define olawlike elements adapted to become readily enibedded in a mass of steel wool. Designated at I! is a cylindrical body, formed of wood or other suitable non-corrosive material, said body having an axially located top projection l8 which extends slidably through the aperture in the top wall l2 of shell II and normally projects a substantial distance thereabove. As shown in Figure 2, body H is loosely contained within shell H and is movable axially with respect thereto. Secured centrally to body I! is a depending hook element It. Engaged with hook element I9 is a mass of steel wool 20 said mass being further engaged by the claw fingers l3, the fingers being bent slightly inwardly to cause the spurs l5 to become embedded in the mass 20. I

In employment of the device, it is held in the \palm of the hand, the fingers gripping shell II and the palm exerting pressure on the projection l8, whereby force is transmitted to the steel wool mass 20 during the scouring operation. In order to clean the device, it is simply held 2 spaces between the fingers l3 as well as the mass of steel wool 20. This dislodges dirt particles from the device, whereby it may be maintained in a sanitary condition.

When the steel wool has become worn and abraded beyond the point of further usefulness, it is removed from the holder and a new mass of steel wool is placed therein. The new wool is crowded into the space defined by fingers I3 by the use of any suitable blunt implement. When said space is filled with steel wool, the projection 18 is rotated about one-half of a turn, causing the hook l9 to engage itself in the new mass of steel wool. As the mass becomes worn by use it is fed downwardly relative to shell I l by the pressure exerted [by the palm of the hand on projection l8.

By the use of the holder above described, the steel wool is used with maximum efficiency and with minimum waste of wool.

While a specific embodiment of a steel wool holder has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitation-s be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A scouring pad holder, comprising a cylindrical shell having a top provided with a central opening and being open at its bottom end, circumierentiall spaced depending resilient prongs secured to the lower end of the shell and extending [below the shell for a substantial distance, the prongs being provided near their lower free ends with radially inwardly projecting integral barbs,

a cylindrical block loosely mounted within the cylindrical shell above the prongs and freely shiftable axially therein, the upward axial movement of the block being limited by the top of the shell, the block including a central upstanding knob slidably projecting through the opening of the top of the shell, and a centrally located hook secured to the bottom or the block, the prongs receiving within them and surroundin a scouring pad, the hook and barbs engaging within the scouring pad, the block serving as a plunger to feed the scouring 'pad downwardly when the knob is depressed.

WILLIAM A. BAKER.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

faucet, the water being allowed to enter the UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 929,860 Keith Aug. 3, 1909 1,686,526 Lacy Oct. 9, 1928 1,767,313 Salv ucci June 24, 1930 2,428,536 Vlaessen Oct. '7, 1947 

